Article container



July 28, 1942.

H. C. KING ARTICLE CONTAINE Filed June 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l July28, 1942. H. c. KING 2,290,971

ARTICLE CONTAINER Filed June 25, 1940 3 SheetsSheet 2 July 28, 1942. H.c. KING ARTICLE CONTAINER Fi led June 25, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3grvuv/wto't fill/1012 611W l T \wY w. KY :1 W

1H HII11IIIILFIIIIIIFI||||||| Patented July 28, 1942 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE ARTICLE CONTAINER 4 Claims.

This invention relates generally to article containers and to carryinghandles th refor. More specifically, the invention relates to containersfor carrying a plurality of cans or other rigid articles, which can beused as shipping containers holding a large number of cans and which canbe separated or divided into two separate containers or cartons holdinga lesser number of cans or other articles and to handle arrangements forsuch containers.

It has long been customary to pack commodities in tin cans and to pack anumber of such cans into cases made of paper or fiber board. The numberof cans which are customarily placed in such a case depends upon thesize of the cans; two dozen ordinary size cans generally has beenconsidered a case lot and the size of the cases or containers has beenappropriate for such a number of cans. However, there has been a recenttendency on the part of distributors of certain commodities to reducethe number of cans in each case with the hope that such a reduction willresult in increased sales of case lots to individual purchasers. Thistrend has been particularly noticeable among the distributors of beerand other malt beverages, which are customarily packed in twelve-ouncecans. Many leading brewers now distribute malt beverages in casescontaining twelve such cans and there is an increasing tendency on thepart of purchasers of malt beverages to purchase complete cases oftwelve cans. In some instances, these cases have had their wallsweakened along a line extending transversely about the midpoint of thecontainer in order to facilitate separation of the container into twocartons, each containing six cans. In this manner it has been relativelysimple to provide a carton of six cans for such individual purchasers aswere reluctant to buy a complete case of twelve cans. However, nosatisfactory handle arrangement has ever been developed which could beused as a handle for either the complete twelve-can case or for the twosix-can cartons.

It is, therefore, a primary object of this invention to provide a highlysatisfactory handle arrangement which can be used for either a completecase or a half-case carton.

Another important object of this invention is to provide such a handlearrangement without a substantial increase in the cost of the containersand without making it necessary to materially alter the containers orthe equipment used in the manufacture of thecontainers.

Other objectsof my invention will be in part apparent and, in partpointed out in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiment of my invention. In this description, reference -is had tothe accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a complete container showing a handlemember being used as a handle for the complete container;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the container shown inFigure 1 with the handle member shown partly in section;

,Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view looking in the direction of thearrows along the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a half-case carton showing a handlemember as used for carrying such a half-case carton and showing one formof top closure;

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a halfcase carton with portionsof the walls broken away to show a modified form of top closure;

Figure 6 is a plan view of a box blank from which the complete containermay be formed;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a suitable handle member;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the top closure shown in Figure 4; and

Figure 9 is a plan view of the type of top closure shown in Figure 5.

Like reference numerals are used in each of the views to designate thesame or similar parts.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the

reference numeral l0 designates generally a complete container, in thisinstance a container holding twelve cans. The container I0 is providedwith a bottom ll, side walls l2, l3, l1 and I8,

and a top I4. In the past, it has been customary to provide the top andbottom of such containers with perforations such as those indicated at[6, for the purpose of enabling the container to be carried by thepurchaser by inserting his thumb and one finger through theperforations. Since perforations l6 form no part of the presentinvention, they will not be further described.

A line I9 is shown extending transversely around the container at itsapproximate longitudinal midsection. This line I! may be either aprinted line, or it may be a line of scoring whereby the container mayeasily be severed or separated into two similar cartons, which I havedesignated in Figure 1 as A and B. This separation can be done with aknife or any other suitable edged tool. If the line I! is merelyprinted, it will serve as a guide for accurately severing the containerand if it is a line of perforations it will facilitate the cutting aswell as act as a guide.

The walls I2 and H of the container are each shown as being providedwith a pair of apertures which are designated by the reference numerals20, 2|, 22, and 23. The apertures 20 and 22 are located midway betweenthe side walls I! and I8 and approximately midway between the top l4 andthe line IS. The apertures 2i and 23 are, also located midway betweenthe side walls l1 and i8 and are positioned approximately midway betweenthe bottom Ii and the line is. In a modification of my invention, Icontemplate that the apertures need not be punched out at the time thatthe container is made, but may merely have their out-line scored inorder that they may be easily formed in the walls of the container. Theapertures 20, 2|, 22, and 23 are preferably polygonal in outline and Ihave shown them in the drawings as octagonal.

In Figure '7, I have shown a handle member 24 having enlargements 25 ateach end thereof. These enlargements provide inwardly facing shoulders26 and 21 on opposite sides of the handle member and at each endthereof. The enlargements 25 are ofsuch width that they will passthrough anyone nfthe apertures designated by the reference numerals 20to 23 in thezone of the greatest horizontal width of the apertures.After an entire enlargement 25 has been inserted through one of theapertures, the handle member is turned upwardly in parallel relationshipto the side walls in such manner that the shoulders 26 and 21 engage thewalls of the aperture in a region of lesser horizontal length of theaperture, whereby the enlargement 25 will be retained within theaperture in a manner which it is believed will be clearly understood byreference to the drawings and particularly to Figures 2 and 4 thereof.

Before the container is separated or severed, the handle member 24 mayhave its end enlargements 25 inserted in opposed apertures 20 and 22 inthe manner just described and a handle will thus be provided for theentire container. After separation of the container into two cartons Aand B, one of the cartons, for example, carton A, which must beinverted, is available as a carton for a half case of cans. The handlemember 24 is then inserted through apertures 20 and 22 in much the samemanner as previously described except that the handle member 24 is soinserted that it extends over and around the open end of the carton A.If two of the handle members 24 are provided for each completecontainer, it will thereby be possible to provide a handle arrangementfor each carton after separation of the container.

In Figures 2 and 3, I have shown a convenient manner for transportingthe handle member 24 without their interfering in any way with theshipment of the complete containers orincreasing the overall dimensionsof such containers during shipment. The handle member 24 is merelyfolded upon itself at its midsection, indicated by the reference numeral28 in Figure 7, and is then inserted through one of the apertures andbetween adjacent cans within the container.

In Figure 6, I have shown a suitable blank for making the completecontainer shown in Figure 1. In this figure, I have designated by thesame reference numerals as previously used, the side walls i2, l3, l1,and Hi, the bottom Ii and the top 14. The flaps 29, 30, 3|, and 32 maybe folded under the side walls II and It in the manner well understoodin this art. The fiap 33 is adapted to be secured to the side wall l2 inthe manner shown in Figure 2 by any suitable means, as, for example.staples 34.

Although they are not entirely necessary, I prefer to provide closuresfor the open upper ends of the individual cartons after severance of thecomplete container. In Figure 4, I have shown one type of suitableclosure in position on a carton. A detailed plan view of this closure isalso shown in Figure 8 and is designated by the reference numeral 35. Asis best shown in Figure 8. opposite ends of the closure member 35 areprovided with recesses 25 adapted to receive the body portion of thehandle member 24. If the closure member 35 is merely placed in positionover the top of the open end of the carton, it will be held in suchposition by engagement of the handle member 24 with the recesses 36.

In Figure 5, I have shown a modified form of the closure member inposition on a carton and this closure member is shown in detail onFigure 9 and is designated by the reference numera1 31. The closuremember 31 is of the proper dimensions to fit inside the open end of thecarton and to rest upon the contained cans. To permit ready withdrawalof the closure member 31, I preferably provide it with a finger hole 38in order to enable it to be gr p d and withdrawn.

The foregoing description is believed to be sufficient to enable thoseskilled in this art to practice my invention and to derive the benefitstherefrom. It will be apparent that cans may be packed in the containerswhich I have described and the pair of handle members may be insertedthrough the apertures in the described manner. In this way, thecontainer occupies no more space during shipping than does aconventional container. In the event that a purchaser desires to buy acomplete container or case, the retailer may merely withdraw one of thehandle members 24 and insert its large ends 25 in any two of theoppositely disposed apertures 28 to 23. A convenient and inexpensivehandle member will thus be provided for the complete carton. In theevent that a purchaser desires to buy only a half case, or even a lessernumber of cans, the retailer may easily sever the complete containerinto two similar cartons and insert one of the handle members 24 in theproper apertures in such a manner that the body portion of the handleextends over the open end of the carton. In this way, a convenienthandle is provided for either or both of the individual cartons.

If desired, the closure members of the type indicated by the referencenumeral 31 in Figure 5 may be included in the complete container when itis packed to thus obviate the necessity of separate shipment of closuremembers. However, as above indicated, the use of closure members may beentirely dispensed with without departing from the teachings of myinvention.

The apertures 20 to 23 inclusive do not detract from the appearance orstrength of the container and facilitate the circulation of air throughthe container when it is placed in a cooling zone such as arefrigerator.

While I have illustrated what I believe to be the preferred embodimentof my invention, it is to be distinctly understood that variousmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined by the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A composite closed container adapted to contain a plurality of cansor similar articles and having its walls weakened along a line extendingtransversely around the approximate middle of said container tofacilitate severing said container into two similar cartons, each ofwhich embraces a bottom and side and end walls, two opposed walls ofeach of said cartons being perforated at their approximate midpoints tothereby provide opposed complementary apertures substantiallyequidistant from the top and bottom of each of said cartons, a handlemember composed of an elongated web of flexible material of suincientlength to extend from one of said apertures over either the top orbottom of either of said cartons to the opposed aperture and havingshoulders near the ends thereof, said handle member being adapted, priorto severance of said container, to have its ends secured by means ofsaid shoulders in said opposed complementary apertures of one of saidcartons with the body portion of the handie member extending around thebottom of the carton to which it is secured to thereby provide abail-like handle for said'composite container, and said handle memberbeing adapted, after severance of said container, to have its endssecured by means of said shoulders in opposed complementary apertures inone of said cartons, with the body portion of said handle memberextending over the top of the said carton to thereby provide a bail-likehandle for said carton.

2. A composite closed container adapted to contain a plurality ofarticles and having its walls marked along a line extending transverselyaround the approximate middle of said container to facilitate separationof said container into a pair of similar cartons each of which embracesa bottom and side and end walls, means on opposed walls of each of saidcartons for securing a handle thereto, a handle member composed of anelongated web of flexible material of suflicient length to extend fromthe securing means on one wall of either of said cartons over either thebottom or top of said carton to the securing means on the opposed walland adapted, prior to separation of said container, to have its endssecured to said securing means on opposed walls of either of saidcartons with the handle extending around the bottom of the carton towhich it is attached to thereby provide a bail-like handle for saidcomposite container, and said handle member being adapted, afterseparation of said container, to have its ends secured to theapproximate midpoints of,opposite walls of either 7 3. A compositeclosed container adapted to contain a plurality of cans or similararticles and having its walls weakened along a line extendingtransversely around the approximate middle of said container tofacilitate severing said container into two similar cartons, each ofwhich embraces a bottom and side and end walls, two opposed walls ofeach of said cartons being perforated at their approximate midpoints tothereby provide opposed complementary apertures substantiallyequidistant from the top and bottom of each of said cartons, a handlemember composed of an elongated web of flexible material of suflicientlength to extend from one of said apertures over either the top orbottom of either of said cartons to the opposed aperture and havingshoulders near the ends thereof, said handle member being folded andinserted through one of the apertures in a wall of one of said cartons,saidhandle member being adapted to be withdrawn from said container and,prior to severance of said container, to have it sends secured by meansof said shoulders in said opposed complementary apertures of one of saidcartons with the body portion of the handle member extending around thebottom of the carton to which, it is secured to thereby provide abail-like handle for said composite container, and said handle memberbeing adapted, after severance of said container, to have its endssecured by means of said shoulders in opposed complementary apertures inone of said cartons, with the body portion of said handle memberextending over the top of the said carton to thereby provide a baillikehandle for said carton.

4. A composite closed container as described in claim 2, in which a pairof closure members extend transversely across the interior of thecomposite closed container at its approximate middle, to provide aclosure for the upper end of each of said cartons after separation ofsaid composite container.

HERMAN 0. ENG.

